The amazing way a Herts brewery is supporting NHS and key workers during the outbreak

McMullen have been helping organisations across Herts including the Paradise Wildlife Park

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While many of us are fortunate enough to be able to isolate in our homes during these unsettled times, there are still some people who have to carry on and go to work.

This includes NHS staff, charities, key workers and other organisations who are trying to help the people who need it most as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the UK.

But one of Hertfordshire's biggest pub chains, and very own brewery, is trying to give back to those who are keeping our country going.

Staff from branches of McMullen Brewing and Pubs from across the county have been delivering food to those who need it and offering to support to regulars who may be missing the camaraderie of the pub, especially older residents who live alone.

Doug MacDonald, a digital marketing executive for the company, said that on Friday when pubs were asked to close, "we had to get to complete action stations and see what we could do to continue to put pubs at the heart of the community."

With pubs shutting down, the stock which had been bought in preparation for a busy weekend which included Mother's Day could have easily gone to waste.

But the McMullen team decided against that.

They decided "the best thing to do would be to give away our stock and produce to people in the community," said Doug.

He continued: "I think realistically they've given away tens of thousands of pounds worth of stock, that would have just been going to waste.

"There's no need for us to make any profit off this, we just wanted to make sure people in our community were looked after."

Teams from McMullen pubs have been working to give out stock to NHS workers, key workers, fire, ambulance, and police services, and even Paradise Wildlife Park to keep the animals fed.

On top of this, the Hertford brewery has transformed into a grocers for NHS workers.

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"The worst bit is when you find out all these people, all the pub regulars who work in the NHS, who work in these key industries, and when they finish their long shift and they're unable to get any basic resources it’s heartbreaking," explained Doug.

NHS staff can make their order online, and the brewery will source the goods from their supplier before selling it to the customer at cost price and even putting it in their car boot for them to limit as much contact as possible.

Staff from the chain's pubs will also be volunteering their time to try and help the community in whatever way they can.

For some people, the pub is their social hub, and the shut doors may lead to people becoming cut off from society.

"All the people in our pubs are looking to volunteer their time in any way they can help", said Doug, "which is harder now we're on lockdown.

"But even to the point of offering a phone number to regulars, or people in the community, anything they can do to help.

"We think that if the government have done such an incredible job offering this much money to help us, it's important we give back any way we can to the community."